Ear emergence begins

South East: September and early October sown crops of Gallant, Solstice, and Cordiale are racing ahead and now have flag-leaves fully emerged with ears up to 1/3 emerged, and remaining wheats generally between GS37-39. Damp with some wet tramlines still, following shower conditions earlier in the week - next week looking potentially unsettled again which may delay T2 application on later crops. With ears now emerging in some varieties, we may need to consider T4 fungicide inputs to maximise foliar protection and canopy duration as could potentially be a long interval until harvest.

Brown rust: generally only low levels detectable.

Yellow rust: have seen some evidence of localised leaf infection following T1 applications on leaf 2

Mildew: low levels only.

Septoria: recent and frequent rain splash events now mean that Septoria will be actively moving between leaf layers, placing fungicide strategies under close scrutiny.

Eyespot: increasing frequency of stem based browning symptoms and clear eyespot lesions on the more susceptible varieties (Cordiale, Solstice and Gallant), particularly on heavier soils.

Aphids: despite generally mild winter conditions no adults have been found to date. No signs of BYDV showing up yet either.

Weed control: spring applied Herbicide has generally given high levels of control of blackgrass.

Eastern Counties: The majority of crops are at full flag and some early drilled crops are starting to boot. Recent showery conditions with occassional heavy downpour has increased the risk of Septoria spreading through wheat canopies.

Yellow rust: at treatable levels where timings have been stretched on certain varieties.

Brown rust: trace levels.

Mildew: trace levels.

Eyespot: not significant.

Septoria: septoria pressure remains high.

Weed control: Groundsel taking a long time to die

East Midlands: Some forward crops have ear emerged and majority have flag leaf out with the late drilled crops after maize at flag tip showing. Many wheat crops will have bittersaltz with the T2. Some T2 have been applied to early crops but many will get T2 from now onwards with later ones in 7-10 days time.

Slugs: high numbers in some crops with heavy grazing of leaf 4 and 5.

Yellow rust: crops generally clean but any misses or where sprayer couldn't reach have yellow rust showing.

Brown rust: none seen.

Septoria: top 3 leaves remain clean on the whole with the odd late T1 where maize drilling got in the way sprayed showing a bit of septoria

Mildew: levels continue to be low.

Eyespot: levels remain under control but prolonged wet feet may cause some to re emerge.

Weed control: Blackgrass ears now starting to emerge.

West Midlands: The most forward crops, such as early sown Panorama, now at ear emergence. However, the majority are at flag leaf emergence to fully emerged. Late sown crops are just at flag leaf tip visible stage. The recent warm dry spell of weather has helped growers catch up with field work and many T2 fungicides applied over the last few days. Return to catchy weather next week.

Slugs: still surprisingly high numbers in some crops.

Yellow rust: seen in Spring Wheat.

Brown rust: none seen.

Septoria: still remains main threat especially after recent heavy showers. Most crops still have leaf 3 clear but many have tipof leaf four carrying lesions.

Mildew: very little seen.

Eyespot: huge range of incidence ranging from only a few percent up to 35% of tillers.

Weed control: brome control has been good this year. Some late wild oats now starting to wave above the crop.

North East: Crops range from first node to flag leaf emerged. Many crops are showing good potential for yield.

Yellow rust: controlled by T0 fungicides.

Brown rust: none seen.

Mildew: none seen.

Septoria: present in many crops.

Eyespot: developing in a few crops, sharp eyespot seen.

Take-all: confirmed from lab test, on crop seed treated for take-all. This is an early sighting.

Weed control: Polygonum weeds and still a few cranesbill emerging.

Seed weevil late surge in numbers

South East: All crops now typically at late flowering, with only around 10% flower left now.

Seed weevil: levels beginning to increase again in last few days with some crops frustratingly approaching thresholds for spraying despite being at the end of flowering.

Light leaf spot: Sclerotinia sprays based around a triazolinthione fungicide should have aided control on pods/upper canopy.

Sclerotinia: all crops have had early to mid-flowering sprays applied.

Eastern Counties: There are still a few late crops in flower and many are hanging on to a tinge of yellow! Plenty of rain at last with 30 to 40 mm typical. Some very heavy down pours in places and hail. Now still and dry, good spraying weather.

Light leaf spot: no recent infections.

Seed weevil: in warm dry conditions seed weevils have been noted and treated where thresholds have been reached.

Sclerotinia: a few last minute late flowering applications to rape, some intended for last week but conditions prevented application. Now being applied to late flowering crops following recent perceived risk with sclerotinia after the rainy days. Difficulty still obtaining preferred chemicals.

Weed control: we are very pleased with the poppy control achieved by the dual-action contact and residual herbicide applications made in Nov and Jan.

East Midlands: Vast majority of crops now at late flowering with the odd forward crop almost finished flowering.

Light leaf spot: levels remain low.

Sclerotinia: all crops sprayed now.

Seed weevil: no weevil seen to any extent and examination of forward crops show no midge damage yet.

West Midlands: crops are definitely on the turn so next time through the crop will be with a desiccant.

Seed weevil: none seen.

Light leaf spot: trace levels in some crops.

Sclerotinia: period for control now finished.

North East: Crops are fast approaching the end of flowering and for the most forward this will be within the week. Average temp for week 10.9 degrees. 39.6 mm rain for week

Sclerotinia: control sprays main focus.

Seed weevil: none at thresholds.

South East: Crops now generally at ears emerged to start of flowering - T2 fungicide spraying now underway or been completed in last 7 days.

Eastern Counties: Most crops are about 50-75% in ear. Very little disease present.

West Midlands: Crops at ear emergence to early flowering. Crops remain free of disease.

East Midlands: All crops have awns out now and look well.

North East: Crops range from awn to ear emergence. Disease levels remain low.